1900's Automobile Industry

The 1900’s brought about not only the Great Depression and World War II, but it also brought about changes in the geographic landscape of the United States. Highway and interstate systems were developed and the automobile industry reached new heights. These new developments played an important role in transforming the country’s post-depression and post WWII economy. In 1919, an Army convoy began its trip from Washington DC to San Francisco California. Inside of one of the eighty-one Army vehicles was Dwight D. Eisenhower who later became President of the Unites States in the 1950’s. This Army convoy experienced very rough trip conditions, particularly dirt roads by the Mississippi River which he encountered halfway to his final destination of San Francisco. Several factors such as road accidents, vehicles stuck in quick sand or mud, lack of sleep, water, food, and hygiene facilities contributed to it taking 62 days to complete the trip. During this long and uncomfortable trip, Eisenhower had an idea of a highway construction building project. This idea would later become reality during

Two years later, Eisenhower brought up again his idea about building an interstate highway system, but this time he also proposed a self-liquidation financial system that would free the country from debt. A Highway Trust Fund was established that would receive revenues from a Federal Gasoline Tax. The proposal was music to the governors’ ears. Soon a special group of people were chosen by the president to study the project. Because of Eisenhower’s persistency on creating an interstate highway system, the interstate system was approved by the senate and the house on June 26, 1956. Just three days later on June 29th, the president Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway System Act of 1956.